A piercing question

It may seem like a minor decision, but many parents struggle to decide what age is best to pierce a child's ears.

Amy Leap

It may seem like a minor decision, but many parents struggle to decide what age is best to pierce a child's ears.

"Most healthy infants are able to have their ears pierced, but parents should be aware of possible complications," said Dr. Jennifer Janco, interim chief of pediatrics at St. Luke's University Health Network.

However, the American Academy of Pediatrics advised waiting until the child is old enough to make the decision to pierce or not to pierce his or her ears.

"I decided to wait until my daughter was old enough. I chose 13 to make her own decision, especially since I had never had my own pierced, and was not familiar with the care necessary when one's ears are pierced — turning, cleaning, etc.," said Brenda Colucci of Blakeslee.

This way, she would be old enough to make the decision and handle it all herself, she said.

Jessica Mack of Bushkill agreed and said, "I think it is a very personal decision, and both my daughter's father and I have tattoos and body piercing. I prefer to wait until she is old enough to take care of her ears by herself."

When her daughter asks why her mother and father have piercings, Mack simply explains to her that it is a decision that people should make when they are not a child.

Most ear-piercing businesses in malls, jewelry stores and accessory stores use piercing guns, according The Association of Professional Piercers in Lawrence, Kan.

A popular ear-piercing kiosk in Stroud Mall uses a piercing gun, and when piercing a small child's ears, they usually use two employees, so the child can have both ears done at the same time, making it quicker and less stressful for the child.

"There is the chance of local infection because piercing involves a break in the skin, which is our natural barrier to infection," Janco said. "The piercing site may become infected. Signs could include swelling, crusting, pus, pain and fever."

Janco warned against having any type cartilage piercing done on a child because when the piercing is done on the ear's cartilage (upper, curved part of ear) there is also a chance of cartilage infection.

"This is much more involved than a skin infection in the earlobe and can be avoided by not piercing the part of the ear comprised of cartilage," she said.

Piercing jewelry — particularly pieces made of nickel — can cause an allergic reaction at the site. Signs of an allergic reaction can include itching or swelling of the ear lobe, according to kidshealth.org, part of the Nemours Foundation.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends only 24-carat gold post earrings be placed in the new holes to avoid allergic reactions and infections.

Parents of younger children should choose smaller earrings and steer clear of the larger, dangling hoop earrings, because if the dangling earrings get caught on something, there could be trauma to the earlobe, Janco said.

And even though the backs of the earring can be difficult to remove, Janco said, they can still present a choking hazard. "Anyone that has worked with children knows how resourceful they can be," she said.

Another reason to think twice about piercing a baby's ears, according the American Academy of Pediatrics: Sometimes the back of the earring becomes embedded in the skin of the earlobe.

If parents are still interested in having their infant's ears pierced, they should take necessary precautions and be sure to follow the instructions for taking care of pierced ears: clean with a disinfectant twice daily, use simple gold studs and leave the initial earrings in place for four to six weeks, Janco said.